Turkish PM confirms contact with Kurdish rebels

Ankara: Turkey`s Prime Minister confirmed reports that government officials met last year with representatives of Kurdish rebels in Europe.

The secret talks came to light after some websites this week posted an audio recording from an alleged 2010 meeting in Oslo, Norway.

Today, Turkey`s state television, TRT, cited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan telling reporters on his way to Tunisia that an investigation was launched to determine how the recording became public.

Last year, Turkey confirmed contacts between state officials and the rebel`s imprisoned leader, but it was the first time officials confirmed that meetings were also held with exiled rebel leaders.

Kurdish rebels have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey`s mainly Kurdish southeast region since 1984.